Since I’ve had so many problems with this book for two years, the fact that I hit chapter 7 today was amazing. LOL I guess it was the main issue of what got Richard and Amanda to marry in the first place that was holding me back all along because once I gave in and let the original reason be the one, things have been falling into place.

A quick diversion on why stories don’t often go the way writers expect:

Writers really are not in full control of the story. Yes, we write it. Yes, all the elements in it come from the writer’s mind, but so much of it comes at a subconscious level. That’s why writers are often surprised by the unexpected twists and turns that pop up, and that is why it often feels like we have to cater to the characters’ whims.

So much of writing is instinctual. Maybe that is the way of all creative arts. The story ends up being what it wants to be. What I’ve learned from all of this is that the subconscious mind is a lot more powerful than I gave it credit for.

The reason I say all of the above is because when it seems like the writer should have gone in another direction, the truth is, no, they couldn’t. The story is going to be what it’s meant to be. I don’t know how many times I’ve told people, “The reason the character did X is because that is who the character is and what the character wanted to do.” If I, as the author, come in and try to change that, the story comes to a complete stop and never gets done.

Case in point, Wagon Trail Bride. As soon as I stopped telling the characters what to do, I could finally write the story. You’d think after writing over 50 books (not all romance but most of them being romance), I would have gotten that by now. I guess it only goes to prove how much we can learn, no matter how far along we’ve come. 🙂

Back to topic:

If things continue as they have been, I’d like to get this out in mid-t0-late December. This one is going to my publisher, Parchment & Plume.

His Wicked Lady

I’m in chapter three now, and love how well everything is coming along. This book seems to be coming together easily, and part of that might be because it takes place in the same Regency world that my other Regency books do. I’m already familiar with the characters and the way things are set up. I know which characters are determined to keep their reputations clean and which ones couldn’t care less about propriety. It’s even more fun when I get to mix the two types together.

I’ve already had Malcolm meet his future wife, though he doesn’t know it’s her because he never did get her name at the ball. It’ll be fun to see his reaction when he realizes he’ll be matched up with her, especially since he was shocked at her brazen behavior. (To him, that means she had the nerve to come up to him, grab his hand, and lead him to the dance floor without asking his permission first.)

I want to get this out in January.

The Convenient Mail Order Bride

Well, in the last post I made it a point to say this was going to be a standalone romance. Then as I was writing chapter two, a character popped up unexpectedly, and I already know this is going to be the hero in a future book. So this will be book 1 in a new series. I just have to give the series a title.

I’m still waiting for the heroine to meet the hero of this particular book. I honestly don’t know how he’s going to react to seeing her because he was never told someone posted a mail order bride ad on his behalf. All I know is why the person did it. (I can’t say it because it is a spoiler.) I also know the hero of this book is going to marry her because it’s a romance. See what I mean about the writer really having no control? I find things out as I go along, and more often than not, I’m surprised by what develops. This is why writing is so much fun. You never know what will happen in any given writing session.

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About Ruth Ann Nordin

Ruth Ann Nordin mainly writes historical western romances and Regencies. From time to time, she branches out to contemporaries romances and other genres (such as science fiction thrillers). For more information, please go to www.ruthannnordin.com or check out https://ruthannnordinauthorblog.wordpress.com.

I’m enjoying all of these so much. I think taking a break from romance has really renewed my passion for it. Now it’s hard to sleep because I get so excited about writing. That’s the best feeling in the world.

LOL Every now and then, characters need to be reined in, but fortunately, it doesn’t happen often.